There are many tips that motorists should utilize when sharing the roads with cyclists. Since both automobiles and bicycles can legally operate on the roads at the same time, both must come to a reasonable agreement as to the safety standards for cyclists and automobile. The following tips will help to remind you of some of the hazards to be aware of when cars and bicycles share the road.
One important thing to remember about cyclists is that they are simply harder to see on the road than cars because of their size. Motorcycle operators have a similar issue, particularly when from the front or from behind. In the case of bicycles, the rider and bicycle together are well under two feet wide, which is significantly different than a car. In addition, bicycles occupy the far right side of a lane so for those wishing to enter traffic it may be difficult to actually see a rider approaching from the left, particularly if the rider is approaching from a sidewalk.
A motorist may have a concern that the cyclist is not aware of their approach, prompting a beep of the horn. It is highly recommended that you do not do this. A car horn is 110 decibels on average. Compare this to a gunshot at 140 decibels. The outburst of a car horn to a cyclist can be quite a shock, and could cause the cyclist to swerve, losing control and accidentally steering into traffic.
Often it will be necessary to change lanes to pass a cyclist or a group of cyclists. Remember that a cyclist is moving forward as well and that you need to allow the same amount of room when you reenter your lane as if you were passing a car to prevent the cyclist from having to brake suddenly to avoid collision.
With respect to passing a cyclist on the road, it may seem that the cyclist is not as far over to the right as it might seem they should be. There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this in that cyclists have difficulties with road debris such as glass; metal or heavy stones in the shoulders that can cause tire punctures. A punctured tire for a cyclist can mean loss of control and a potential accident. Cyclists have the right to be in the roadway and although inconvenient at times, a motorist must pass with leaving a wide berth to get around a cyclist, or a group of cyclists. From time to time, this may mean reducing your speed behind the cyclist until the way is clear to pass.
By Liz Kim, Boston MA
Never take a cyclists’ speed for granted. Many competitive cyclists can pedal between 25 and 30 miles per hour on a flat section of roadway, and on inclines they can easily match the speed of cars. This is important to note because a right hand turn could spell disaster for a cyclist to your right and behind you if you do not properly signal for a right hand turn. Most cyclists that ride often will be learned enough to look for turn signals, so make sure you always use them, particularly when driving in the midst of cyclists.
With a cyclist’s speed in mind, take special care when making left hand turns. Often, drivers will cause an accident during a left hand turn by not allowing the cyclist to pass through the intersection first. This is often due to the smaller front profile of a cyclist making it more difficult to see them. Right hand turns can be troublesome as well as a cyclist could be in your blind spot.
Cyclists pose a unique challenge for motorists, but both auto drivers and cyclists need to be aware of the hazards of sharing the road. A bit of courtesy on the part of drivers and cyclists can prevent mishaps on the roads.
